Maytag Plans Products, Cost Cuts,
But Low Equity Remains a Hurdle

By

Joseph T. Hallinan Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated March 15, 2002 12:01 a.m. ET

At a splashy new-product launch in New York on Wednesday, fashion designer Nicole Miller was on hand to help Maytag Corp. unveil some of the latest in household appliances: a dishwasher packed with three racks, and a refrigerator with doors that can be tailored to a buyer's kitchen cabinetry.

While the high-end machines may boost sales, Maytag's real challenge is its balance sheet, which has been put through the wringer.